Power supply system



Nov. 24, 1936., l F. x. Rr-:Es

POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed July 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l f-H DC. Load NVENTOR d j aa M. ma) ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1936, F. x. REES POWR SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed July 22, 1935 2 SheecS-SheeI 2 VINVENTOR y c BY M MONEY Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PATENT OFFICEy POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM Frank X. Rees, Albany, N. Y., assignor to General lRailway Signal Company, Rochester, N. Y.

Application July 22, 1935, Serial No. 32,565

16 Claims.

This invention relates to power supply organizations for railway signalling systems and the like, and more particularly to a system for normally supplying rectified alternating current to the load circuits, and for employing a battery as a reserve or stand-.by source, with means for automatically connecting the battery with the load circuits upon failure or abnormal drop in voltage of the alternating current supply.

In the typical power supply organization for railway signalling systems of various kinds, it is desirable toconnect the reserve battery to the load circuits quickly upon failure of the alternating current supply, so that certain relays or other devices, more particularly stick relays for example, may not be de-energized even temporarily in case-of power failure. It is also desirable to connect the battery to the'load circuits at times when; due to an extra heavy load or other cause, the voltage of the rectified alternating current drops below a suitable normal voltage. An alternating current power transfer relay, which is commonly used, aside from various objectionable characteristics such as the tendency to vibrate, is relatively slow in releasing and does not respond accurately to small changein voltage.

When a storage battery is used as the reserve or stand-by source, it is desirable to employ the rectified alternating current to maintain the batter.y charged; and when this is done, the normal voltage on theload circuits to provide such charging voltage is-usually considerably higher than the voltage of the battery after it has carried the load for a time; and since the relays, lamps, and other devices of the signalling system should be arranged to operate properly on the lower voltage of the battery after it has been used for a time as a reserve supply, it follows that the load voltage normally applied Vto the load circuits from the rectified alternating current supply is higher than necessary, thereby impairing' the efciency of the power supply organization.

With these and other considerationsin mind, it is proposed in accordance with this invention, generally speaking, to employ a power transfer relay of the direct current tractive type, which will respond quickly to relatively small changes in voltage, and to energize this relay from the out-put circuit of the rectifier in such a way that the battery when connected to the load circuit will not improperly energize the relay. It is also proposed to provide an addi- 55l tional blocking rectifier when a storage battery (Cl. r11- 97) is used as the reserve source in such a way that,

while the battery is maintained charged, it can- Y not discharge to the load circuits under normal conditions, with the power transfer relay energized, and so that the voltage of the load circuit normally is lower than the open circuit of the voltage of the battery, and is comparable with the desirable and efficient voltage for the load.

Other purposes, attributes and characteristic `features of the invention will be in part apparent and inpart pointed out as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l illustrates in a simplified and diagrammatic manner one embodiment of the invention for use with a primary battery as a reserve source;

. Fig. 2 shows a variation or modification of the arrangementof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention for use with a storage battery as a reserve source;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary illustration of a preferred construction of the power transfer relay; and

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of voltage curves for the embodiment of Fig. 3.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, it is contemplated that the direct current load circuit will be normally supplied with rectified alternating current from a suitable source, indicated by the letters A C, with a transformer T, preferably with taps to provide the desired voltage for the input circuit of a double-wave rectifier R of the usual type and construction, preferably of the dry-plate or copper-oxide type. 'Ihe individual rectiiiers E, l, 8, and 9 of the complete rectifier R are illustrated with the usual arrow convention;` and it will be apparent how the alternating current voltage impressed across the input terminals of this double-wave rectifier R is rectied to give a full-wave uni-directional voltage for the load circuit. This load circuit may include relays for various functions in a signalling system, including directional stick relays or the like, or lamps for the signals, or various other types and kinds of Adirect current devices, commonly employed in railway signalling.

The power-olf or transfer relay PO, used in connection with this invention, is a typical direct current relay of the tractive type, with its air gap, contacts and other parts so arranged or adjusted that it will respond quickly to a small decrease in voltage below thenormal operating voltage. Among other things, this relay is preferably provided with a spring, which can have CJI its pressure accurately adjusted, to actin addition to the weight of the armature as avbiasing force to move the amature toward its retracted position. One typical construction, suitable for this purpose, is illustrated in Fig. 4, and comprises the usual magnetic structure with a pivoted armature Il, all attached to and supported by a plate Il, preferably of insulated material. The armature I8 has attached thereto by suitable insulators i2 a relatively stiif contact ilnger I3 engaging a stationary contact I4, supported in any suitable manner not specifically illustrated.-

The contact nger l2 is suillciently stili' or rigid so that the contacts -Il are operated by a relatively small movement of the amature. Attached to the amature I8 is a bracket I5, in which slides loosely the lower end of an adjustable rod I8 having a collar I1 ilxed thereto. A compression coil spring I8 around the rod is located between the bracket I5 and the collar I1, so as to exert a downward Ibiasing force on the bracket and amature in accordance with the adjusted position of the rod. The rod il is threaded through a sleeve I8, which is ilxed. to the plate of the relay by a nut 2l by clamping against an insulated sleeve 2|. The upper end of the rod I8 is provided with a head I8* by which it may be turned. and a jam nut 22 engaging a washer holds the rod in its adjusted position. Other specic variations of the same construe tion may, oi' course, be employed.

With the structure of the power-oil' relay PO, such as shown in Fig. 4 and just described, the

tension of the spring I8 may be accurately adjusted sovthat the back contacts Il -II are open when the relay is energized withf normal voltage, but will close quickly when the voltage drops a small per cent, the armature III moving a short distance and giving a relatively small contact opening.

In .the arrangement of Fig. l, the mid-tap between the two coils of the relay PO is connected by a wire 25 to one terminal of the load circuit; and the other terminals of these relay coils are connected to the input terminals of the rectiiler R by wires 28 and 21. In other words, one winding of the relay is connected across one individual rectier 8, and the other across another individual rectiiler 1. It can be seen that this arrangement energizes the two coils of the relay PO alternately with half cycles ofalternatlng current. For example, on one half cycle of one polarity, current through lthe one relay coil iis blocked by the rectier 6 and flows through the left-hand coil and rectifier 1; and on the other half cycle of the other polarity, the other coil of the relay is energized in the same way.

In case of failure of the alternating current supply, or a drop in its normal voltage, the armature III of the relay PO drops and causes its back contacts M to connect the reserve battery B across the load circuit. When this occurs, current from the battery B cannot ilow through the winding of the relay PO, being blocked by the individual rectiilers 8 and 9. Consequently, whenA the reserve battery B is connected to the load circuit, it does not act 'to energize the relay PO,

kas would otherwise occur without this circuit 'arrangement and blocking rectiilers.

Hg. 2 illustrates a variation or modication, in which an additional rectiner 28 is interposed in one of the load bus wiresbetween the rectiiler R and the connections to the reserve battery a primary battery, or a storage battery which l doesv not receive any maintained charge.

In some types of signalling systems, however,

vit may be expedient to employ a storage battery as a reserve or standby source, and when this is done, it is desirable to maintain this battery charged from the same rectiiled source of alternating current. In this connection, it is a wellknown characteristic of a storage battery that its voltage drops under load; and hence the relays, lamps, or other devices in the load circuit would ordinarily be designed to operate properly with the. voltage of the reserve battery when partly discharged. If the reserve storage battery is to be charged from the out-put circuit of the rectiiier, and is connected directly across the load circuit, then it is apparent that the normal load voltage will be as high as the open circuit chargingv voltage for the battery; and under these conditions, the normal load voltage is considerably higher than that for which the devices of the load circuit would be designed.

With these factors in mind, the modiiication of Fig. 3 is employed when storage batteries are used as Ia reserve source. '.'ihismodlilcationl of Fig. 3, as shown, is substantially the same as Fig. 2 with respect to the connections of poweroil' relay P0; but it should be understood that the arrangement' of Fig. 1 may be similarly employed. vIn the modiilcation of Fig. 3, the reserve storage battery SB is connected across the load circuit in series with a blocking re'ctiner 28 and adjustable resistance and the de-energization of the Yrelay PO, due to failure or depreciation of the rectified voltage, closes its back contacts to establish a low resistance shunt around this blocking rectifier l28 and resistance 80. It`

Fig. 5. Assuming the usual commercial alternatwhich the devices and the load circuit respond,y

is indicated by the line E, then the open circuit voltage of the storage battery SB may be somewhat higher, yas indicated by the line EB, the

. battery then receiving charging current through the blocking rectiiler 28 during the peak voltages above this line EB, 8S indicated by the Shaded portions a. Thus, the voltage EB of the battery on open circuit is greater than the normal load voltage E, and may drop considerably when the load has been applied to the battery for a time, without falling below a voltage suitable for the operation of the devices connected to the load circuit. Tiie blocking rectiiler 28 prevents discharge' ofthe -battery during the time intervals when the out-put voltage of the rectifier R falls below the lbattery voltage, indicated by. line EB, and as illustrated by the shaded portions b. This reduces the current that must be supplied to the battery to keep it charged.

l1. In a power supply system for railroad signailing, the combination with a load circuit demanding a constant supply of direct current, of

a battery, a source of rectified alternating current, a direct current relay of the tractive type for connecting said battery to the load circuit,

venting energization of said relay from said battery. l

3. In a power supply system forrrailroad signalling, the combination with 'a load circuit demanding a constant supply of direct current, of abattery, a source of rectified alternating current, a direct current relay of the tractive type normally energized from said load circuit for closing contacts when partially de-energized upon an abnormaldrop in the voltage of said source of` rectified current forconnecting said battery to said load circuit, and a rectifier for blocking the flow of current from said battery to said relay.

4. In a power supply system for railroad signalling, the combination with a load circuit requiring a continuous supply of unidirectional current, of a source ofalternating current, a double-wave rectifier connecting said source to said load circuit, a battery, a relay having windings connected across said individual units oi said rectifier to be energized by current from said rectifier but not by current from said load circuit, and means operated by said relay for A connecting said battery to said load circuit.

, rent of opposite polarity from said source of alternating current but are not energized by current from the load circuit, and means operated by said relay for connecting said battery to said load circuit. .f y

6. A power supply system for railway signalling comprising, a load circuit, a source of alternating current, a full-wave rectifier connecting said source and said load circuit, a battery, a relay having back contacts for connecting said battery to said load circuit, and means for rendering said relay responsive to the voltage of.

the rectified alternating current from said source nected to said load circuit.

7. A power supply system for railroad signalling comprising, a load circuit, as sourceof alternating current, a. full-wave rectifier connecting said source to` said load circuit, a battery, a power-off relay for connecting said battery to saidv load circuit, and means connecting said relay to said rectifier to be energized by the rectied alternating current but not by current but not to the voltage ofthe battery when confrom said battery when connected vto said load.

8. A power supply system for railway signalling comprising, in combination with a load circuit, a source of alternating current, a double-wave rectifler, a reserve source of direct current, a relay for connecting said reserve source to said load circuit upon an abnormal drop in voltage, and means including a rectifier for rendering said relay responsive to the voltage applied to said load circuit from said source of alternating current and rectier but not Ato the voltage of said reserve source.

9. In a power supply system for railroadlsignailing, the combination with a load circuit requiring a continuous supply of uni-directional current, of a source of rectified alternating current normally connected to said load circuit, a battery, a direct current relay of the tractive type having an adjustable biasing spring for connectvoltage energizing said relay falls below a predetermined value, and means for rendering said relay responsive to the voltage applied to said load system circuit from said rectified source but not to 'the voltage of said battery when connected to said load circuit.

10. in a power supply system for railway signalling, in combination with a load circuit requiring a continuous supply of uni-directional current, a source of rectified alternating current, a storage battery, means connecting said storage battery to said load circuit and including arectifier blocking the ow of current from said battery to saiclload circuit but permitting the flow of charging current from the load circuit to the battery, and means responsive to the out-put voltage ca-said rectified source only for connecting said battery to the load circuit directly without said rectifier. f

il. lin a power supply system lfor railway signalling, in coinbinationwith a load circuit re quiring a continuous supply of uni-directional current, a source oi-rectified alternating current normally connected to said load circuit, a storage battery, means including a rectifier for normally connecting said storage battery to said load circuit, said `rectifler blocking the fiow of current from said battery to the load circuit but permitting the flow of charging current to the battery, and a direct current relay `of the tractive type responsive yto the voltage of said source only 'for establishing a shunt around said blocking rectiiier upon an abnormal drop in voltage from said source.

l2. in a power supply system for railway signalling, in combination with a load circuit requiring a continuous supply of uni-directional cur-- rent, a source of rectified alternating current-for normally energizing said load circuit, a storage battery, means normally connecting said storage battery to said load circuit to permit charging thereof but preventing discharge of said battery to said load circuit, and a power-off relay responsive to the voltage from said rectified source but 30 ing said battery to said load circuit when the not to the voltage of said battery for rendering said battery effective to supply current to said load circuit upon an abnormal drop in voltage ot said rectified source.

13. In a power supply system for railway signalling, in combination with a load circuit requiring a continuous supply oi' uni-directional current, a source of alternating current, a doublewave rectifier connecting said source to said load circuit, a storage battery, means normally connecting said storage battery to said load circuit to permit, charge thereof but preventing ilow o! current from the battery to the load circuit,y a power-oiI ,relay connected to said load circuit for directly connecting said battery to said load circuit, and means preventing energization of said 'relay by said battery. I

halt wave rectier blocking the ow of current from the battery to the load circuit but permitting the ow o! charging current to the battery, and means responsive to an abnormal drop in voltage ,of the load circuit tor directly connecting said battery to the load circuit.

15. A power supply system for railwaysignalling characterized by a storage battery normally charged from a load circuit but not supplying current to said load circuit, a direct current power-oi! relay of the tractive type for rendering said battery effective to supply current to said load circuit, and means preventing energization of said relay by current from said battery.

16. In a system'for supplying uni-directional current to a load circuit i'rom a source of rectitied alternating current, a reserve battery normally charged from said load circuit but not supplying current to said load circuit, and means tor rendering said battery efiective to supply current to the load circuit upon an abnormal drop in voltage of said rectified source, said means being not responsive to current supplied to said load circuit from said battery.

FRANK X. REES. 

